Dias 1 Institut for Statskundskab Small States in the European Union Workshop at the Centre for...

Dias 1

Institut for Statskundskab

Small States in the European Union

Workshop at the Centre for Small States Studies, University of Iceland

June 24, 2014

Anders Wivel, PhDCaroline Howard Grøn, PhD

Centre for European PoliticsDepartement of Political ScienceUniversity of Copenhagen

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1) Small State in the European Union: Exploring the issues at Stake

2) Non-stop writing: Examples of small states strategies in Europe3) Maximizing influence in the EU: a smart state approach4) Group exercise: Case study5) Presentations and discussions of case study6) Conclusions


Today’s programme

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Exploring the issues at stake: The predicament of small states?

•An old Swahili saying is sometimes used to illustrate the predicament of small states in international relations: ‘When two elephants fight, the grass suffers; and, when the same two elephants make love, the grass also suffers’.

•No matter whether the great powers go to war or cooperate, small states tend to fall victim.


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Exploring the issues at stake: EU politics

• Power asymmetry is less important in the European Union for at least three reasons:

• A stable peace leaves the small states with more room for manoeuvre

• EU Institutions provide platforms for voice and channels of influence

• The multi-dimensional and technical character of European integration allows for the exercise of many different competencies, including some held by small states

• Consensus culture balances power politics


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Exploring the issues at stake: Small state strategies

Traditional small state strategies include:

• Hiding: staying out of trouble by staying out of

sight (neutrality, non-alignment)

• Binding: preventing trouble from occurring by

creating and strengthening the governance of

international affairs by international rules and

institutions (EU)

• Seeking shelter: protection against financial

turmoil, security threats (NATO, EU)


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Exploring the issues at stake: From survival problem to influence problem

• The traditional strategies are all defensive. The main aim is to protect the state against outside threats

• They are less relevant in the EU, where the traditional ‘survival problem’ of small states is transformed into an ‘influence problem’

• This favours a shift from defensive to offensive strategies


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Exploring the issues at stake: A smart state strategy for maximizing small state influence

A smart state strategy has three fundamental

aspects:

The first aspect concerns the political

substance of the strategy. The political substance

of the strategy must present (part of) the solution to

a problem recognised by all or most of the relevant

political actors.


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The second aspect concerns the form of the

strategy. Small states do not have sufficient

resources to pursue a broad political agenda with

many different goals. Therefore, they must focus their

resources and signal their willingness to negotiate

and compromise on issues that are not deemed to be

of vital importance.


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The third aspect concerns the role of the small

state itself. In order to maximise its own influence

the small state must aim to position itself as an

‘honest broker’.


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A smart state strategy may vary in form:

• Small states as lobbyists

• Small states as self-interested mediators

• Small states as norm entrepreneurs


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Opportunities for pursuing smart strategies are likely to vary with domestic scope conditions as well as the institutional characteristics of the external environment:

• Formal institutions and rules (membership, votes, procedures)

• Norms (consensus, concerts)

• Stakeholders (states, organizations, companies)


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Exploring the issues at stake: Non stop writing

• Please take 5 minutes to write about examples of European states pursuing the following strategies inside and outside the European Union:

• Hiding• Shelter• Binding• Smart state


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MAXIMIZING INFLUENCE ….


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The EU at a glance – the institutional structure

Council of Ministers

European Parliament European Commission

ECJ

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The past

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Macro developments in the EU post-Lisbon

• A more democratic system• More power to the EP• EP holds better control over the Commission• More QMV• Citizens initiatives

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Macro developments in the EU post-Lisbon II

• A more mature political system• One president and one ’foreign minister’• More coorporation between EP and Council leaving the

Commission behind


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The present

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Macro developments in the EU post-Lisbon III

• But also more intergovernmental• Limits to integration – subsidarity • Commission are kept out, foreign policy• Parliament are kept out, Schengen revisions • Integration as such is being questioned, the UK • Big countries cooperate outside institutions, solutions to the

financial crisis

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The future?

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The EU at a glance II – power moves post Lisbon

Council of Ministers

European Parliament European Commission

ECJ

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Where does this leave small members?

“The optimal strategy of a state depends on its own capabilities as well

as its external environment.

For a small state navigating the institutional settings of the European

Union, the nature of the organizational structure of the institutions is

pivotal for assessing the costs and benefits of its strategic choices. “

(Wivel, 2010: 17)

The Commission not as important – but still important

Parliament has extented powers; but does not always know what to do

with them

Council empowered – if they can agree


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Strategies for being smart – lobbyism

Exchange of information (Bouwen, 2002):• Technical solutions • National interests• European interest

Timing is everything – with the right resources: • Consider multiple venues to shop (COM or EP)• Have personal contacts /SNE’s • Survey the agenda • Have the right resources;

technical/diplomatic/political/organizational • And be willing to invest

What’s new? • EU 28 as an obstacle and accelerator• The more policy areas and venues – the more need for input


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Strategies for being smart – Self-interested mediation

• Based on the role of the honest broker defending the common interest

• Easier for small states – they can never go-it-alone anyway • Utilizes consensus culture

But: • Demands prioritizations • Demands capacity; diplomatic, technical and organizational • Demands not-too-obvious interests

What’s new?• Co-decision makes room for even more mediation • Institutions play an important role – can you be honest both

in Council and Parliament? • Takes a more coordinated process than ever…


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Strategies for being smart – Norm entrepeneurship

Focuses on soft power

Small MS influences the agenda by: • Playing into existing discourse • Acting as benchmark

• Useful in OMC• Gives legitimacy to information played into the process

What’s new?•Technical input with a normative twist is very much in demand •Reputation gives leverage •Soft regulation, OMC, intergovernmental cooperation –all great venues for being a front runner – but with substantial risk


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A BIGGER EXERCISE

Please prepare a strategy to deal with the ‘smart regulation’ case. You enter the scenario shortly before the Danish EU presidency.

a)If you represent the UK (interest: less EU)

b)If you represent Denmark (interest: less unnecessary regulation)

c)If you represent the European Commission (interest: defending the EU)

The strategy is to be presented to class in maximum five minutes. Two groups are assigned to each actor, one is to present its strategy, the other to ask critical questions. Who does what will be determined when we reconvene.

Return at 15.00

(at what time you have also had a short break, administered by the group)


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A final sum-up: what have you learned today?

Go to

www.m.socrative.com – on your laptop, moblie or tablet

Go to room 985610

Answer the question


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Dias 1 Institut for Statskundskab Small States in the European Union Workshop at the Centre for...

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